Belalcazar's Statue, Cali

The monument to Sebastián de Belalcázar is located in Santiago de Cali, capital of Valle del Cauca, Colombia. It is a statue of Sebastián de Belalcázar, Spanish conquistador founded the city on June 25, 1536 and it is one of the most iconic monuments of the city.

The statue was made in cast bronze, and represents Belalcázar with his right hand pointing west, that is to say, towards the Pacific, and with his left hand holding his sword Tizona. The image rests on a pedestal on which is engraved the coat of arms of Santiago de Cali and a plaque with the dedication. The monumental group is located in a small square on the hill that bears the name of the founder.

On the morning of April 28, 2021, during the protests in Colombia in 2021, the indigenous community of the Misak people tore down the statue, leaving only the pedestal.

The Regional Indigenous Council of Cauca -CRIC- made a statement on the matter, declaring that the symbolism of the figure of Sebastián de Belalcázar "is symbolic violence against all indigenous peoples who today exist and persist with identity".

It is currently being discussed whether to restore it or replace it with a monument more in tune with the collective memory of the city and the territory.